Babysitting The Amnesiac Lycan King

So I don't say anything.

The silence stretches between us until he finally mutters, "Goodnight, Taryn."

And then the call ends.

I lower the phone from my ear, staring at the screen like it might give me some

kind of answer. But it doesn't.

I let out a breath and lean back against the edge of the bed, pressing my head

against the mattress.

The world feels heavier than usual.

And for the first time in a long time—

I feel completely, utterly lost.

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53

I stare up at the ceiling, my back pressed against the cold floor, the documents

still sprawled around me. My chest is tight, my thoughts tangled. I should do

something-keep digging, make another call, chase the truth until I bleed for it.

But instead, I just fucking lie here.

I close my eyes. Breathe. Try not to think about him. Try not to think about the

weight of his hand on my skin, the way his voice curled around my name like it

belonged to him. Like I belonged to him.

It doesn't work.

The memory slithers in, uninvited.

I shove it down.

A loud bang makes me jolt up. My door flies open like it owes someone money,

and then there's Zoe-her arms stacked with dresses, a piece of bread jammed

between her teeth, eyes wide and full of untamed chaos. "The fuck-?" I scramble, sweeping the stolen documents off the floor in a panic,

shoving them under my bed like I'm thirteen and hiding contraband from a strict

parent.

Zoe stomps in, completely unbothered. "You," she says through a mouthful of

bread, pointing at me like I've personally offended her ancestors. "Are going out."

I blink. "The hell I am."

"Yes. The hell you are." She marches over, slamming the dresses onto my bed.

The hangers clatter against each other. "Because you need it. Desperately."

I exhale sharply, rubbing my temples. "Zoe, I'm not in the mood for some-"I motion

vaguely at the dresses, at her overly

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11:54 Tue, 25 M

Chapter 76

determined expression. "-whatever the fuck this is."

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+53)

"Oh, I know," she says, too sweetly. "That's why I'm forcing you. Because if I don't,

room, going batshit crazy over documents

theorist, and I refuse

her. "I like being

her hips, tilting her

to stop being

clear your head. And what better way to do that than by

something physical?"

my eyes.

She grins, all teeth.

tells me I won't

I

step inside, the air changes-charged, thick with sweat

smells like leather, metal, and aggression.

flashing erratically, casting jagged shadows across the concrete

entire place feels like a well-dressed crime scene. Music blasts through

the sounds of fists slamming into flesh, grunts of pain,

referees calling

goddamn underground

slowly turn

She smiles innocently.

dragged me to an illegal fight

she corrects. "Not illegal. Just...very

her. Then the ring. Then back

fuck is wrong with

she groans, waving a dismissive

figured what better

deep voice

going to kill you

I whip around.

next to the ring,

ever-is Jacob Wyatt.

I blink. Hard.

Zoe. "You

Zoe shrugs. "Guilty"

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Chapter 76

my hands up.

like he didn't

turn back to him.

Jacob smirks. "Fighting."

"For what?"

answer. He just looks at me. And

And

something about the way

stomach

drop.

sinking feeling crawls up my spine. "Jacob,"

fighting

He doesn't reply.

Just smiles.

then I

the thick air like a

the match you've all

The

81%8

Two

shake hands. And then, without warning, they brutalize

It's not a sport.

It's war.

mat. The English guy

feel it. The Italian retaliates,

slamming him into

My stomach churns.

isn't a normal fight. This is

hiss. "I

my arm. "Just...

fucking

knockout. The

The crowd goes wild.

the announcer's voice

a challenger unlike

The lights cut out.